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Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp car check

Is the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp reliable? We analysed 6,460 real MOT tests across 524 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp? Enter the reg for a free check:

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,460 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.8%
Typical Mileage
94,219mi
Annual Mileage
7,246mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and coil spring broken. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp.

Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

72.4%
2007
74.3%
2006
72%
2005
71.7%
2004
72.6%
2003

Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 313
position lamp(s) not working 166
coil spring broken 112
coil spring fractured 111
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 97
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 95
Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush 90
coil spring incomplete 88
brake binding 83
Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint 67

Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
4,572 mi/yr
Typical
7,246 mi/yr
Average
8,417 mi/yr
Heavy usage
10,651 mi/yr

Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2007 87 72.4% 38,642 64,822 128,466
2006 770 74.3% 64,352 94,270 123,390
2005 808 72.0% 62,014 87,870 116,732
2004 1,687 71.7% 63,358 93,216 123,144
2003 2,758 72.6% 66,828 93,481 118,667

How Long Does a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Last?

Based on 524 Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.1 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
94,219 mi
75th Percentile
121,098 mi
95th Percentile
162,496 mi
Max Recorded
1,098,280 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2006

74.3% MOT pass rate from 770 tests

Year to avoid
2004

71.7% MOT pass rate from 1,687 tests

The best year to buy a used Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.3% across 770 tests. The 2004 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp THIS CAR 72.8% 6,460 94,219 mi 23 yrs
Saab 9-3 73.6% 2,294,034 88,441 mi 28 yrs
Saab 9-5 74.3% 735,114 97,615 mi 29 yrs
Saab 900 67.7% 358,142 113,382 mi 39 yrs
Renault Clio Dynamique 76.1% 2,858 89,476 mi — yrs

Compared to the Saab 9-3 (73.6% pass rate) and the Saab 9-5 (74.3% pass rate), the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp?

The Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.8% across 6,460 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (313 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (166), and coil spring broken (112). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp owner drives around 7,246 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp models stay on UK roads for around 23 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp reliable?
Based on 6,460 MOT tests, the Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp has a 72.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working, and coil spring broken. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp do per year?
The typical Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp does around 7,246 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp last?
Most Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 524 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Saab 9-3 Aero 210 Bhp is 2006 with a 74.3% pass rate across 770 tests.